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Latvian headed to Florida - ''It's all in my own hands'' |
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Latvian hockey player Rodrigo Abols is packing his bags and getting ready to hit the road to join NHL's Florida Panthers and begin training camp. While he's unsure what future holds - it's all in his own hands.
''I went to the World Championships to represent my home country and try to help them get into quarter-finals. Unfortunately for me, it ended way too soon.'' Ābols said on Latvian national TV.
All of a sudden player was out of the tournament with a broken finger. Just two games deep he knew that he wasn't going to be able to help his home country but that didn't stop him from signing a contract with the Florida Panthers.
''I was already planning to travel to Sweden for rehabilitation but then my agent called me and told me that there is an offer from Florida'' he added.
''I have to dictate the rules for as much as I can'' player answered with a huge smile when asked what are the rules within his contract. ''I have a two-way deal which means that I will be playing up and down in both leagues. It's all in my hands. I will have to prove myself as much as I can and then they will make their decision on where I'm going to start the season. It's going to be hard to make the roster straight away and it's very realistic to end up in Springfield but if so - I just gotta fight and prove them that I deserve to be up with the big squad'' he explained.
''I don't know in what shape I'm in right now. During the summer you have to push yourself as much as you can in order to be ready to go through the meat grinder.''
Rodrigo was drafted in 2016 NHL entry draft #184 overall by Vancouver Canucks. He has spent most of his pro career in the KHL and Sweden. He also has played a huge part for Latvian national team.
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